A US soldier is to face a court-martial today for refusing to fight after exploring the teachings of Jesus. Travis Bishop rejected an order to deploy to Afghanistan after he reflected on the ethics of war and studied the Bible.

The death of 15 British soldiers in just over a week has sparked calls for an end to the UK's involvement in the war in Afghanistan. A poll shows that the majority of the British public want troops withdrawn by the end of the year.

Today is the UK's first Armed Forces Day. It is a thinly veiled attempt to deflect scrutiny of politicians who have made disastrous decisions about war, says Symon Hill. But sentiment is no substitute for accountability.